If you've grown up in a primarily English area you've probably found it tradition to sing the "Happy Birthday" song. You've also most likely assumed this song was part of the public domain. However, behind the light it isn't.
A company known as Warner/Chappell Music which is part of Warner Music Group owns the legal rights to tune and have sued for as much as $150,000 USD for copyright infringement. Want to include song in a video, TV show or other form of media? Pay nearly $1,000 USD for the license to the song. The good thing is, you won't likely get sued over singing at your local parties unless it has media coverage or you record it and upload it to youtube. Which is good, because I sung it only a few days ago
They've earned millions over the years in court cases including those against The White House for when President Obama sang the song on National Television, The Vatican for when hundreds sang to Pope Benedict and was shown on Television.
Given all this, a film maker has taken a stand recently and filed a law suit against Warner Music Group. Demanding the song be released to the public domain and that millions be paid back in royalties.
What do you think of this? Have you heard the song before?
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